Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 1135

Pretermission

Pre`ter*mis"sion (?), n. [L. praetermissio. See Pretermit.]

1. The act of passing by or omitting; omission. Milton.

Pretermit

Pre`ter*mit" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretermitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretermitting.] [L. praetermittere, praetermissum; praeter beyond + mittere to send. See Mission.] To pass by; to omit; to disregard. Bacon.

Preternatural

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral (?; 135), a. [Pref. preter + natural.] Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as, a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth) or labor.

This vile and preternatural temper of mind. South.

Syn. -- See Supernatural.

Preternaturalism

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ism (?), n. The state of being preternatural; a preternatural condition.

Preternaturality

Pre`ter*nat`u*ral"i*ty (?), n. Preternaturalness. [R.] Dr. John Smith.

Preternaturally

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ly (?; 135), adv. In a preternatural manner or degree. Bacon.

Preternaturalness

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ness, n. The quality or state of being preternatural.

Preterperfect

Pre`ter*per"fect (?), a. & n. [Pref. preter- + perfect.] (Gram.) Old name of the tense also called preterit.

Preterpluperfect

Pre`ter*plu"per`fect (?), a. & n. [Pref. preter- + pluperfect.] (Gram.) Old name of the tense also called pluperfect.

Pretertiary

Pre*ter"ti*a*ry (?), a. (Geol.) Earlier than Tertiary.

Pretervection

Pre`ter*vec"tion (?), n. [L. praetervectio, fr. praetervehere to carry beyond. See Invection.] The act of carrying past or beyond. [R.] Abp. Potter.

Pretex

Pre*tex" (?), v. t. [L. praetexere. See Pretext.] To frame; to devise; to disguise or excuse; hence, to pretend; to declare falsely. [Obs.]

Pretext

Pre"text (?; 277), n. [F. prétexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.] Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.

They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness. L'Estrange.

With how much or how little pretext of reason. Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense.

Pretexture

Pre*tex"ture (?; 135), n. A pretext. [Obs.]

Pretibial

Pre*tib"i*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the tibia.

Pretor

Pre"tor (?), n. [L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans. &hand; Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom (praetor urbanus) was a kind of mayor or city judge; the other (praetor peregrinus) was a judge of cases in which one or both of the parties were foreigners. Still later, the number of pretors, or judges, was further increased.

2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate. [R.] Dryden.

Pretorial

Pre*to"ri*al (?), a. Pretorian. Burke.

Pretorian

Pre*to"ri*an (?), a. [L. praetorians: cf. F. prétorien.] Of or pertaining to a pretor or magistrate; judicial; exercised by, or belonging to, a pretor; as, pretorian power or authority. Pretorian bands ∨ guards, ∨ Pretorians (Rom. Hist.), the emperor's bodyguards, instituted by the Emperor Augustus in nine cohorts of 1,000 men each. -- Pretorian gate (Rom. Antiq.), that one of the four gates in a camp which lay next the enemy. Brande & C.

Pretorian

Pre*to"ri*an, n. A soldier of the pretorian guard.

Pretorium

Pre*to"ri*um (?), n. [L. praetorium, fr. praetor.]

1. The general's tent in a Roman camp; hence, a council of war, because held in the general's tent.

2. The official residence of a governor of a province; hence, a place; a splendid country seat.

Pretorship

Pre"tor*ship (?), n. The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton

Pretorture

Pre*tor"ture (?; 135), v. t. To torture beforehand. Fuller.

Prettily

Pret"ti*ly (?), adv. In a pretty manner.

Prettiness

Pret"ti*ness, n. The quality or state of being pretty; -- used sometimes in a disparaging sense.

A style . . . without sententious pretension or antithetical prettiness. Jeffrey.

Pretty

Pret"ty (?), a. [Compar. Prettier (?); superl. Prettiest.] [OE. prati, AS. prættig, prætig, crafty, sly, akin to præt, prætt, deceit, trickery, Icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, perhaps through Celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, LL. practica execution, practice, plot. See Practice.]

1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem.

This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever Ran on the greensward. Shak.

2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. Wavering a pretty while." Evelyn.

3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense.

The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. Spectator.

4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.

5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [Scot.]

[He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Elegant; neat; fine. See Handsome.

Pretty

Pret"ty (?), adv. In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather.

Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury.

Prettyish

Pret"ty*ish, a. Somewhat pretty. Walpole.

Prettyism

Pret"ty*ism (?), n. Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [R.] Ed. Rev.

Pretty-spoken

Pret"ty-spo`ken (?), a. Spoken or speaking prettily. [Colloq.]

Pretypify

Pre*typ"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretypified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pretypifying.] To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type. Bp. Pearson.

Pretzel

Pret"zel (?), n. [G. pretzel, bretzel. Cf. Bretzel.] A kind of German biscuit or cake in the form of a twisted ring, salted on the outside.

Prevail

Pre*vail" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.] [F. prévaloir, OF. prevaleir, L. praevalere; prae before + valere to be strong, able, or worth. See Valiant.]

1. To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the mastery; to succeed; -- sometimes with over or against.

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Ex. xvii. 11.

So David prevailed over the Philistine. 1 Sam. xvii. 50.

This kingdom could never prevail against the united power of England. Swift.

2. To be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be predominant; to have currency or prevalence; to obtain; as, the practice prevails this day.

This custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the warier skeptics, as far as it prevails. Locke.

3. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait.

He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl. Clarendon.

Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. Swift.

Prevailing

Pre*vail"ing, a.

1. Having superior force or influence; efficacious; persuasive. Shak.

Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers. Rowe.

2. Predominant; prevalent; most general; as, the prevailing disease of a climate; a prevailing opinion. Syn. See Prevalent.

Prevailingly

Pre*vail"ing*ly, adv. So as to prevail.

Prevailment

Pre*vail"ment (?), n. Prevalence; superior influence; efficacy. [Obs.] Shak.

Prevalence

Prev"a*lence (?), n. [L. praevalentia: cf. F. prévalence. See Prevail.] The quality or condition of being prevalent; superior strength, force, or influence; general existence, reception, or practice; wide extension; as, the prevalence of virtue, of a fashion, or of a disease; the prevalence of a rumor.

The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with him. Clarendon.

Prevalency

Prev"a*len*cy (?), n. See Prevalence.

Prevalent

Prev"a*lent (?), a. [L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere. See Prevail.]

1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious.

Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease.

This was the most received and prevalent opinion. Woodward.

Syn. -- Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful. -- Prevalent, Prevailing. What customarily prevails is prevalent; as, a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as, the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it actually prevailing.

Prevalently

Prev"a*lent"ly, adv. In a prevalent manner. Prior.

Prevaricate

Pre*var"i*cate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevaricated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prevaricating.] [L. praevaricatus, p. p. of praevaricari to walk crookedly, to collude; prae before + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, varus bent. See Varicose.]

1. To shift or turn from one side to the other, from the direct course, or from truth; to speak with equivocation; to shuffle; to quibble; as, he prevaricates in his statement.

He prevaricates with his own understanding. South.

2. (Civil Law) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.

3. (Eng. Law) To undertake a thing falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it. Syn. -- To evade; equivocate; quibble; shuffle. -- Prevaricate, Evade, Equivocate. One who evades a question ostensibly answers it, but really turns aside to some other point. He who equivocate uses words which have a double meaning, so that in one sense he can claim to have said the truth, though he does in fact deceive, and intends to do it. He who prevaricates talks all round the question, hoping to dodge" it, and disclose nothing.

Prevaricate

Pre*var"i*cate, v. t. To evade by a quibble; to transgress; to pervert. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Prevarication

Pre*var`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. praevaricatio: cf. F. prévarication.]

1. The act of prevaricating, shuffling, or quibbling, to evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; a deviation from the truth and fair dealing.

The august tribunal of the skies, where no prevarication shall avail. Cowper.

2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.

3. (Law) (a) (Roman Law) The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution. (b) (Common Law) A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it. Cowell.

Prevaricator

Pre*var"i*ca`tor (?), n. [L. praevaricator: cf. F. prévaricateur.]

1. One who prevaricates.

2. (Roman Law) A sham dealer; one who colludes with a defendant in a sham prosecution.

3. One who betrays or abuses a trust. Prynne.

Preve

Preve (?), v. i. & i. To prove. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Preve

Preve, n. Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Prevenance

Prev"e*nance (?), n. [F. prévenance.] (Metaph.) A going before; anticipation in sequence or order. The law of prevenance is simply the well-known law of phenomenal sequence." Ward.

Prevenancy

Prev"e*nan*cy (?), n. The act of anticipating another's wishes, desires, etc., in the way of favor or courtesy; hence, civility; obligingness. [Obs.] Sterne.

Prevene

Pre*vene" (?), v. t. & i. [F. prévenir, L. praevenire. See Prevent.] To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder; to prevent. [Obs.] Philips.

Prevenience

Pre*ven"i*ence (?; 106), n. The act of going before; anticipation. [R.]

Prevenient

Pre*ven"i*ent (?), a. [L. praeveniens, p. pr.] Going before; preceding; hence, preventive. Prevenient grace descending." Milton.

Prevent

Pre*vent" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] [L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.]

1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. [Obs.]

We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1 Thess. iv. 15.

We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. Bk. of Common Prayer.

Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen. Prior.

2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.]

Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope.

3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. This vile purpose to prevent." Shak.

Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton.

Prevent

Pre*vent", v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.]

Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.

Preventability

Pre*vent`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being preventable.

Preventable

Pre*vent"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prevented or hindered; as, preventable diseases.

Preventative

Pre*vent"a*tive (?), n. That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive.

Preventer

Pre*vent"er (?), n.

1. One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease.

3. (Naut.) An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast. Preventer bolts, ∨ Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to reënforce other rigging. -- Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3.

Preventingly

Pre*vent"ing*ly, adv. So as to prevent or hinder.

Prevention

Pre*ven"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prévention.]

1. The act of going, or state of being, before. [Obs.]

The greater the distance, the greater the prevention. Bacon.

2. Anticipation; esp., anticipation of needs or wishes; hence, precaution; forethought. [Obs.] Hammond. Shak.

3. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South.

Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Shak.

4. Prejudice; prepossession. [A Gallicism] Dryden.

Preventional

Pre*ven"tion*al (?), a. Tending to prevent. [Obs.]

Preventive

Pre*vent"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. préventif.]

1. Going before; preceding. [Obs.]

Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. Cudworth.

2. Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of; as, a medicine preventive of disease.

Physic is either curative or preventive. Sir T. Browne.

Preventive service, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [Eng]

Preventive

Pre*vent"ive, n. That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic.

Preventively

Pre*vent"ive*ly, adv. In a preventive manner.

Prevertebral

Pre*ver"te*bral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front, or on the ventral side, of the vertebral column; prespinal.

Pre"vi*ous (?), a. [L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae before + via the way. See Voyage.] Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as, previous arrangements; a previous illness.

The dull sound . . . previous to the storm, Rolls o'er the muttering earth. Thomson.

Previous question. (Parliamentary Practice) See under Question, and compare Closure. -- Previous to, before; -- often used adverbially for previously. Previous to publication. M. Arnold. A policy . . . his friends had advised previous to 1710." J. H. Newman. Syn. -- Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing; former.

Previously

Pre"vi*ous*ly, adv. Beforehand; antecedently; as, a plan previously formed.

Previousness

Pre"vi*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being previous; priority or antecedence in time.

Previse

Pre*vise" (?), v. t. [L. praevisus, p. p. of praevidere to foresee; prae before + videre to see. See Vision.]

1. To foresee. [R.]

2. To inform beforehand; to warn. Ld. Lytton.

Prevision

Pre*vi"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. prévision.] Foresight; foreknowledge; prescience. H. Spencer.

Prevoyant

Pre*voy"ant (?), a. [F. prévoyant.] Foreseeing; prescient. [R.] Mrs. Oliphant.

Prewarn

Pre*warn" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Prewarned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prewarning.] To warn beforehand; to forewarn. [R.]